Wanna “get through” your vacation without becoming sick?

Your summer vacation is around the corner.

I can very well imagine that during the last few weeks of work, all you can think about is your upcoming time off. 

Because you planned it for so long.

Because this is the only time when you can relax and let go. 

Because you long for some sunshine...or for another reason.

Then you arrive at your destination (which is already an achievement these days), full of plans, or ready to do nothing for the coming 1, 2, 3 weeks. A few days later you feel the initial symptoms of a cold. Or extreme tiredness. Or an awful headache. In any case, you are not completely fit to enjoy your well-deserved days off and you may think:

Being sick during vacation is so not fair! Why is this happening?

• Stress at work to finish up everything before the vacation

Often, people may work harder before their vacation, because they know they will be away for some time, and the work will pile up when they come back. They have a strong sense of responsibility and want to finish all assignments before checking out for vacation. This period is super stressful and the body is in a survival mode. Lots of adrenaline and cortisol are rushing through the body. It can possibly even delay the process of getting sick. When there is too much stress, there is no time to get sick. 

• Stress around holiday preparations 

Depending on what your plans are, there may be a lot of things on your list to prepare before getting on that plane/train/bus. On top of the extra work, lots of arrangements are needed to get everything ready for your time off.

• Changing diet during vacation

You may eat out more often at restaurants, enjoy more sweets or rich, homemade meals with your family. Or drink more alcohol (yay, cocktails) whilst on vacation. Because of the changed diet, your body may lack some of the important vitamins and alcohol also harms your immune system that is supposed to protect you from infections and viruses.

Here is how to reduce the risk of getting sick during vacation

1. By keeping your immune system strong and unbeatable, you have great chances of enjoying your time off without unpleasant physical complaints.

• Make sure to get enough sleep in the weeks prior to your vacation.
• Maintain your regular workout routine - at least before your vacation time, make sure you exercise enough 
• Consider taking multivitamins (incl. vitamine C and D) for a few weeks before your holiday
• Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol, especially if you are not used to it otherwise

2. At work, give yourself a bit longer time to prepare for the days you are not around:

• Start delegating certain tasks well in advance
• Make a plan for what should be done before your vacation, and what can wait until you come back, fully recharged. Prioritization is key. Write everything down. This way you don’t have to keep thinking about it.

3. Book 1-3 reflexology sessions with focus on boosting your immune-system, reducing possible stress and detoxing your body. Interested? You can book your session(s) by clinking here.

Follow the above steps to have a carefree vacation, and enjoy your time off!